JPH0621973B2 - Processing selection method in information processing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Outline] The present invention relates to a process selection method in an information device that selects a process to be performed by designating a pattern displayed on the screen. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a process selection method in an information processing device that can select a pattern without increasing the display area, and to select a process required from a plurality of patterns displayed on the display and representing the corresponding process. In a process selection method in an information processing device for selecting and executing a corresponding process, an instruction generating unit for generating an instruction output, a selection display processing unit including a pattern registration drawing unit and an area input searching unit are provided, and the pattern registration drawing unit Is activated by the instruction to register the pattern that represents the process, and the bit string and pattern that each indicate the effective range. Area data representing each process including data and priority is sequentially stored in the area table, and
Within one display area at the same screen position on the display,
A plurality of patterns corresponding to the pattern data are drawn by sequentially superimposing the patterns with the highest priority, and the area input search means is activated by an input detection instruction, and one of the patterns overlapped by the area input means is drawn. When an area input representing a screen position unique to a pattern is detected, a search for which area data among the plurality of area data registered in the area table the screen position belongs to is performed in the effective range bit string of each area data. It is configured to sequentially determine whether or not the position is included according to the priority order of the area data, and activate the process corresponding to the search result.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a process selection method in an information device for selecting a process to be performed by designating a pattern displayed on a screen.

Conventionally, when an operator selects a name of a program or a resource such as a data file in an information processing device such as a personal computer or a workstation, a character string corresponding to a plurality of options is displayed on a display device and a keyboard or the like is used. The method of inputting to select one of them was performed.

In recent years, with the sophistication of user interfaces, information processing devices including a bid map display and a mouse are now widely used. In the system, a picture pattern (referred to as an icon) representing the contents of processing is individually displayed on the display device, and one of the icons corresponding to a plurality of options is selected by a mouse or the like. The method is used and can be selected by the user with a simple operation. However, in the selection method, the number of display patterns increases as the number of choices increases, and the display area expands. Therefore, the area used for the original processing in the display screen becomes narrow, and the screen becomes effective. There is a drawback that it cannot be used, and its improvement is desired.

[Prior Art] FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional example.

FIG. 6A shows a state in which a plurality of patterns (pictures) imitating the processing content are displayed as visible images on the screen. In the example in the figure, pictures such as "scissors", "fude", "compass", etc., are processed by various programs such as "picture cutting" processing, "drawing line" processing, "drawing circle" processing, etc. It is an instruction. Various resources such as a specific data file are displayed together with such processing contents. Each of these patterns is described in B.I. As shown in, the effective range corresponding to each of the areas 1 to 6 is defined. The areas on these screens are called icons.

The conventional method using an icon is that when the operator moves the mouse cursor to monitor the pointed position and a mouse click (operates the input button provided on the mouse) occurs when pointing to the area corresponding to the desired process, The area in which the mouse cursor is present is considered to have been selected by the operator, and the processing is executed.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] As described above, the area representing each pattern is a rectangle,
When the number of areas is increased, there is a problem that the area occupied on the screen is increased due to the pattern display, and the area on the screen that can be used for the original processing is decreased. That is, when the number of patterns to be displayed increases, it is necessary to reduce the area of the pattern unless the area required for the original processing is to be reduced. In that case, the pattern in the area must be reduced. However, the visual characteristic which is a feature of this method is reduced, and it becomes difficult to distinguish and instruct a small display.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a processing selection method in an information processing apparatus that enables selection without reducing the pattern representing the processing content and without increasing the display area of the pattern on the screen.

[Means for Solving the Problems] FIG. 1 is a principle configuration diagram of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, 10 is an instruction generating unit, 11 is a selection display processing unit, 12 is an area table, 13 is a display memory, and 14 is a display memory.
Is a display, and 15 is an area input means.

According to the present invention, patterns are stored in a rectangular area representing each conventional processing content, but most of them are blank (background), and this area is unnecessarily occupied, resulting in waste. If the model imitates a general OA environment, the above problems are solved on the basis that tools (stationery etc.) corresponding to commands are usually stored together (overlapped).

That is, according to the present invention, a pattern representing the processing content is displayed in an overlapping manner in a fixed rectangular display area, and a part of each pattern is designated by the area input means to select and execute the corresponding processing. It is a thing.

[Operation] The display data 102 in which the instruction of the registration instruction 101 from the instruction generation unit 10 of FIG.
When this occurs, the pattern registration drawing means 111 of the selection display processing unit 11 is activated. The display data 102 consists of effective range data and pattern data corresponding to each processing content, and the pattern data (color, color,
(In some cases, gradation etc. are included) represents the effective range.

In the selection display processing unit 11, the pattern registration drawing means 111
When is started, a plurality of display data of the display data 102 is stored in each storage position in the area table 12 in accordance with a predetermined order (display order), and then the display memory 1
The display data is transferred to 3. At that time, display memory 1
Data is sequentially transferred to the third specific rectangular area from the nth rank data.

As for each area data of the area table 12, only the pattern data of the effective range is transferred to the display memory 13, and the background portion is not transferred.

In this way, the area data from the n-th rank to the first rank are sequentially transferred to the specific area of the display memory 13. The contents of the display memory 13 are displayed on the display 14.
, The first rank pattern (display data) is displayed at the top, the second rank pattern is displayed below that, and the nth rank pattern is displayed at the bottom. .

Next, when the input detection instruction 103 is generated from the instruction generation unit 10, the area input search means 112 is activated. On the other hand, when coordinates representing a part of a specific pattern are input from the area input means 15 such as a mouse, the area input search means 112 determines which coordinates among the plurality of area data registered in the area table 12. It is determined by searching whether it belongs to the effective range of. When the specific area data is discriminated, the processing corresponding to the area is activated (a resource not shown is called). According to the determination, the pattern erasing instruction 104 is generated from the instruction generating unit 10, the pattern deleting unit 113 of the selection display processing unit 11 is activated, the area table 12 is deleted, and the pattern is stored from the area table of the display memory 13. The area data is deleted, and display for new selection processing becomes possible.

[Embodiment] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 2, 20 is a processing device (CPU and memory), 21
Is an application program, 22 is an OS (operating system), 23 is VRAM, 24 is a keyboard, and 25 is a mouse.

The application program 21 sets a plurality of sets (only one set is shown in FIG. 2) corresponding to the number of processed options, such as an effective range bit string, data representing a pattern, and information such as display order and screen position as parameters. In addition, a macro instruction a (displayed by macro a in the figure) is issued. When this macro instruction a is issued, the macro instructions a, 2 of the OS 22
21 is called to start execution. First, a process of transferring a pattern or the like to the area table 224 and registering it in the area table 224 is performed. That is, each data supplied as a parameter from the application program 21 is transferred to and registered in the OS area table 224.
As shown in the figure, in the area table 224, the total number of areas is registered at the beginning, and then the order information, screen position information (which represents where on the screen is displayed), bit address (address of effective range bit string) , The pattern address (the address of the pattern data) and the area number (the identification number of the area) follow, and the order information to the area number correspond to one area data, and the area data of the lower order in order from the area data of the order 1 be registered.

After registration, processing for drawing the area data on the screen is performed. In the drawing process 225 in that case, the effective range bit string and the pattern data are read out and a logical product is performed, and the result is transferred to the VRAM 23, as schematically shown in FIG. This transfer is performed from the lowest order area data, and the highest order area data is transferred last.
In 23, writing is performed in the form of overwriting in the same screen area in the order in which they are transferred, and the content written in the VRAM 23 is displayed on a display (not shown) by superimposing the pattern of priority 1 on top. To be done.

When all the patterns have been drawn, the application program 21 issues the macro instruction b for receiving the operator's input.

In the macro instructions b and 222, the input from the keyboard 24 is also notified in the WAIT state, but the mouse 25
When the selection is performed by, the processing is performed next. That is, when the selection is performed, each area data registered in the area table 224 is searched to determine which effective range bit corresponds (is included).

A flow chart of this area table search is shown in FIG. Third
In the figure, if the entire area is not seen in step 30, the screen position is obtained from the mouse cursor position in step 31 (using a coordinate conversion table or the like). Next, in step 32, it is judged whether or not the screen position falls within the effective range bit string of the first area data (searched from the rank 1), and if so, whether or not the corresponding bit is effective in step 33. To judge. This needs to be judged because holes may be formed as patterns.

If it is valid, in the next step 34, the area number is ended as the return information. In step 32, when it is not included in the effective range bit string or when the corresponding bit is not effective in step 33, the area data of the next rank is judged. If all the area data cannot be detected even if judged, the return information without the corresponding area is generated and the operation is returned (step 35).

When the area information is notified from the macro instruction b and the process returns,
The processing content corresponding to the area is determined. At the same time, the application program 21 next issues a macro instruction c. As a result, the OS 22 macro instructions c, 2
23 is called and processing is performed. In this process, the area data such as a pattern is deleted from the area table 224, and the contents of the screen position where the area data is stored are deleted from the VRAM 23. After that, the drawing data at other screen positions are redrawn, and the screen in which the area data is erased is displayed.

FIG. 4 shows a large number of pattern displays and a display example when the area is designated.

In the upper screen of FIG. 4, "scissors" are displayed in the first order as pattern A, and "Fude" as pattern B and "compass" as pattern C are displayed in that order in the order below. . At this time, if pattern C is pointed and clicked with the mouse, the display of the pattern is erased as shown in the screen below, and the instruction for the process corresponding to pattern C is displayed.

FIG. 5 shows a hardware configuration diagram of the present invention.

In FIG. 5, 50 is a central processing unit (CPU), and 51 is RA.
M, 52 is keyboard, 53 is mouse, 54 is VRA
M and 55 are bitmap displays, which store the OS, application programs, data, and the like on the RAM, and when the display data is stored on the VRAM 54, display in bit units corresponding to the bitmap display 55 is performed. Moving the mouse cursor on the bitmap display 55 by moving the mouse 53 as described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 4, and clicking the mouse at a part of the pattern representing the desired processing content. The processing contents can be selected by.

[Effect of the Invention] According to the present invention, it is possible to set a selection area corresponding to many options even in an area on a narrow screen, and it is possible to effectively use the screen.

In addition, the expression form of the tool (command) on the screen matches the general placement (overlapping state) of the tool in everyday life or in the office, giving a natural feeling when used.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the principle of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a flow chart of area table search, and FIG.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a large number of pattern displays and a display example when an area is designated, FIG. 5 is a hardware configuration diagram of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional example. In FIG. 1, 10: instruction generation unit 11: selection display processing unit 12: area table 13: display memory 14: display 15: area input means

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A 61-107498 (JP, A) JP-A 63-73377 (JP, A)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A process selection method in an information processing apparatus for selecting a required process from a plurality of patterns displayed on a display (14) and representing the corresponding process, and executing the corresponding process. A generated instruction generation unit (10), pattern registration drawing means (111), and area input search means (112)
The pattern registration drawing means (111) is activated by a pattern registration instruction indicating a process, and each process includes a bit string indicating a valid range, pattern data, and priority. Area data representing the pattern data are sequentially stored in the area table (12), and a plurality of patterns corresponding to the pattern data having a high priority are stored in one display area at the same screen position on the display (14). The area input retrieval means (112) is activated by the input detection instruction (103) and the screen position peculiar to one pattern among the overlapped patterns from the area input means (15) is drawn. When an area input is detected, a search for which area data among the plurality of area data registered in the area table (12) the screen position belongs to is performed by searching for the effective range bit of each area data. A process selection method in an information processing device, characterized in that whether or not the screen position is included in a sequence of rows is sequentially determined according to the priority order of the area data, and a process corresponding to a search result is activated.